Bottle cap and remover therefor



Aug' 19, 1947 G. H. HUTAFF, JR 2,426,101

BOTTLE CAP AND REMOVER THEREFOR Filed Feb. 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l 12. 9 1 "iQ-3' I O lo E@ .l l n 8 7 INVENT'CIR GEORGE H HUTAFE'JR- I ATTO RNEYs.

G. H. HUTAFF, JR

BOTTLE CAP AND REMOVER THEREFOR Filed Feb. '7, 1946 2 Sheets-SheeiI 2 NVENTQR GEORG; H. H UTAFF, JR. m

ATTRNEYS.

Aug.. 19, i947 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 426,101? 'Bor'rLE oar AND REMovER 'rnnanroia George H. Hutair, Jr., Wilmington, N. C4. Application February 7, 1946, Seri-al No. 646,126

9 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle caps provided with means for manually removing said caps at will, while substantially preserving the form and normal sealing characteristics of said cap when crimped, as usual, upon the mouth and interengaged with the bead at said mouth of the bottle.

It has long been recognized that bottle caps fof the character in question, used in connection with charged liquid goods or beverages, must have Aa rm sealing engagement with the bottle, so much so that special implements have had to be prepared to remove the caps from the bottles.

Many efforts have been made to provide means as a part of or carried with the bottle cap to 'facilitate its removal from the bottle, but the objections to cost, substantial changes in the shapes and dimensions of the standard cap, or the neeessity to provide other than standard machinery to feed and apply the cap of altered contour, size, etc., have stood in the way of their commercial adoption and use.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a combined cap and pull so constituted as to be of inconsequential expense in manufacture and use, and which will not materially increase the desired size or substantially alter the shape of the cap, so that it can be fed and applied through the medium of capping machines now in use.

The invention also has for an object the providing of a pull with maximum gripping area adapted to interft with the thumb and finger of a user when giving a strong manual pull thereon in removing a cap from a bottle.

Still another object is to provide a pull of the character outlined that may not be accidentally or too-easily opened and projected away from the cap, but permitting the pull to be readily opened when it is to be employed to remove the cap.

The foregoing and additional characteristics in construction and function of preferred embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the specific description hereinafter contained when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and wherein said preferred embodiments are illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the neck portion of a standard glass bottle having the improved cap applied at the mouth thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through Figure l with the pull member of the cap in closed or nested relation to the cap, the same as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to that of Figure 2,

showing the pull member opened away from the cap in position to be grasped in releasing the cap from the bottle.

Figure 4 is atop View.

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating the manner in which the pull is raised to be engaged by the thumb and nger of the user in releasing the cap from the bottle mouth to permit pouring the contents from the bottle.

Figure 6 is a top view of a somewhat modied construction. Y

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View thereof.

Figure 8 is a side view of the cap, which is of the same construction in both disclosed embodiments of the invention.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 illustrat ing an alternative formation of the flange of the cap.

Referring more specically to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to the same parts in the respective series of views 1 represents a bottle of conventional shape and formation, usually of glass, having the customary neck 8 with the beaded or flanged mouth S, the latter adapted to cooperate with the ange I0 of the metal cap crimped about said flange to bind the cap in place with the sealing cork Il, in engagement with the ange 9 and adjacent under surface l 2 of the sheet metal cap. The central portion i3, of the top of the normal cap, is depressed relative to the surrounding top flange I4 thereof to provide a slightly upwardly and inwardly tapering seat l5 for the pull member, presently to be described. The formation of the seat i5 is such that it provides a slight overhang or inwardly projected edge IE (somewhat exaggerated in the drawing) to interlock frictionally or positively with a corresponding part of the pull,. as will be seen.

It is to be noted that the diameter of the pull seat i3 is somewhat less than the width or corresponding diameter of the space within the bottle neck 8, so that in forcing the cap to a bottle mouth the rigid or reinforced central portionl of the cap and cooperating pull will be located toward the center, of the bottle neck and away from alignment above the glass flange and neck of the bottle to avoid cracking or shattering said glass by impact of capping machinery on a rigid or vertically disposed seat portion l5 and corresponding interfitting part of the pull. This intertting part of the pull is represented at l1, it being understood that the same (in this instance) has a downward and outward flare corresponding to the seat i5 so as to be closely fitting therewith and seated or unseated by a slight pressure or pull, permitted by the inherent flexibility or give of the engaging parts. It is sufficient that there be adequate overlapping and frictional hold between the seat l5, I6 and corresponding depression l1 of the pull to normally hold the pull in place with the outer ring IS of the pull, fiat upon the underlying-like portion lll of the body of the cap, in this manner adding inconsequentially to the over-all thickness of the cap and permitting the same to be dispensed through usual capping machinery.

The anchored end of the pull l'l, i3 is in the nature of an integral strip I9, projecting outwardly from the ring portion I8, of the pull, downwardly as at 20, round the ange itl of the cap and upwardly inside of the same as at 2l, past the edge of the cork seal il and over the top of the same to provide a locking flange or head 22 bound between the under surface of the top of the cap and the top surface of the cork seal l l. The pull is formed of a metal, preferably more rigid and stronger than the metal oi which the normal cap is usually formed, to give it the strength required in manipulating the same to pull the cap olf its crimped or equivalently clamped engagement around the flange Q of the mouth of the bottle.

It is preferable that a part of the crimping of the flange be omitted where the strip 2l] passes around the flange Ill, as indicated at 23, to permit the strip 2U to lie iiat against the outer face of the ilange to oier less projection or obstruction in this area; also that the flange above the cut-away portion 23 be slit, as indicated at Zd, either vertically, as 'shown in Figure 8, or on converging or diverging lines, as shown at 25, (Figure'9) terminating within the sealing Zone of the cork seal Il, to normally prevent leakage, while at the same time aording a tear or ripping area facilitating distortion of the flange and cap and greater loosening of the same relative to the beaded edge 9 ofthe bottle when pulling the cap therefrom. c

The intertting of the pull member with the cap, and interlocking of the same will suice in normally preventing the pull member from springing away from or being accidentally bent outwardly from the cap to catch on extraneous objects or otherwise presenting an objectionable projection on the capped bottles, or on the cap being fed tothe bottle; but an additional hold is provided by the release tab or end 2S of the pull diametrically vopposite the anchoring strip I9, adapted to be pressed downwardly over the corresponding portion of the flange lll of the cap and into 4snapping engagement with a shoulder 2 o the cap, constituted by cutting away or omitting a small portion of the crimping at the lower edge of the flange similar to the portion 23, previously referred to. Normally the release tab 26 will have suicient resiliency to engage beneath the shoulder 21 and further secure the pull in parallel relation to the cap, but the same may be readily released 'by the finger nail or equivalent, when it is desired to bend the pull upwardly away from the cap. When thus bent upwardly the pull will constitute a strong gripping portion in pulling the same to remove the cap against the normal hold of the crimped flange of the cap. The depressed portion I1 of the pull, presents on one side a substantial and strong projection to be engaged by the finger while on the other side presenting a recess or space accommodating the fleshy part of the thumb so that a strong grip of the pull is afforded for said thumb and nger.

In Figures 6 and 7 I have illustrated a form of intertting between the pull and seat therefor, differing somewhat from the tapered engagement as shown in the preceding gures in that, in lieu. of having the circular flared intertting part 28 of the pull member downwardly and outwardly tapered on its depending or peripheral portion, the same is, in this instance, provided with small outward projections or teats 29 pressed from the metal of the-pull member, adapted to engage beneath the slightly undercut or downwardly inclined engaging wall of the cap, the metal being suiiciently eXible to permit these parts to be engaged, under slight pressure, and thereby interlocked while at the same time being readily unlocked or disengaged when the tab or end portion 30 is pulled upwardly, in the manner indicated in the instance of Figure 5.

I claim:

l. The combination with a sheet metal cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending flange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetween, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion depending below the plane of said top portion, of a metal pull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap and having a releasing tab at its opposite end, the intermediate portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portion adapted to engage with said seat in the cap, the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and depending portion of the pull member being tapered to aiford an impositive interlock therebetween normally retaining the pull member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below the plane of the top portion of the cap.

2. The combination with a sheet metal cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending flange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetween, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion depending below the plane of said top portion, of a metal pull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap and having a releasing tab at its opposite end, the intermediate portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portion adapted to engage with said seat in the cap, the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and depending portion of the pull member being tapered to afford an impositive interlock therebetween normally retaining the pull member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below vthe plane of the top portion of the cap, the releasing tab being formed to engage below the adjacent edge of the depending flange of the cap.

3. The combination with a sheet metal cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending flange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetween, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion depending below the plane of said top portion, of a metal Dull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap and having'a releasing tab at its opposite end, the intermediate portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portiona'dapted to engage with said seat in the cap,'the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and-depending portion of the pull member being tapered to afford an impositive interlock therebetween normally retaining the pull member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below the plane of the top portion of the cap, the releasing tab being formed to engage below the adjacent edge of the depending iiange of the cap substantially above the lower edge of the nange, the latter being recessed to that end.

4. The combination with a sheet metal cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending flange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetween, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion depending below the plane of said top portion, of a metal pull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap and having a releasing tab at its opposite end, the intermediate portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portion adapted to engage with said seat in the cap, the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and depending portion of the pull member being tapered to afford an impositive interlock therebetween normally retaining the pull member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below the plane of the top portion of the cap, the portion of the cap to which the pull member within the area of the packing to facilitate widening and release of the cap fiange upon pull of the pull member.

5. The combination for a bottle having' a with a sheet metal cap neck portion with a lill and outlet passage, said cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending iiange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetween, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion depending below the plane of said top portion of a diameter less than the ywidth of the passage through the neck of the bottle, of a metal pull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap and having a releasing tab at its opposite end, the intermediate portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portion adapted to engage with said seat in the cap, the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and depending portion of the pull member being formed to impositively interlock them to normally retain the pull member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below the plane of the top portion of the cap,

6. The combination with a sheet metal cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending ange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetween, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion depending below the plane of said top portion, of a metal pull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap and having a releasing tab at its opposite end, the intermediate portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portion adapted to engage with said seat in the cap, the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and depending portion of the pull member being formed to impositively interlock them to normally retain the pull member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below the plane of the top portion of the cap.

is anchored being slit vertically 7. The combination with a sheet metal cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending iiange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetween, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion depending below the plane of said top portion, of a metal pull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap, the corresponding portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portion adapted to engage with said seat in the cap, the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and depending portion of the pull member being tapered to afford an impositive interlock therebetween normally retaining the pull member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below the plane of the top portion of the cap.

8; I'he combination with a sheet metal cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending flange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetween, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion vdepending below the plane of said top portion, of a metal pull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap and having a releasing tab at its opposite end, the intermediate portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portion adapted to engage with said seat in the cap, the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and depending portion of the pull member having relatively projecting and receding portions to afford an impositive interlock therebetween normally retaining the pu11 member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below the plane of the top portion of the cap.

9. The combination with a sheet metal cap having a top portion adapted to overlie the beaded upper end of a bottle and a depending flange adapted to be crimped about the same with an interposed seal therebetwen, said cap having a centrally disposed seat portion depending below the plane of said top portion, of a metal pull member anchored at one end with reference to the cap, the corresponding portion of the pull having a centrally disposed depending portion adapted to engage With said seat in the cap, the surrounding wall of the seat in the cap and depending portion of the pull member having relatively projecting and receding portions to aiTord an impositive interlock therebetween normally retaining the pull member in parallelism with the top surface of the cap and with the interlocking therebetween located below the plane of the top portion of the cap.

GEORGE H. HUTAFF, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

